The following version of this book was used to create this guide: O’Brien, Tim. Northern Lights. Broadway Books, 1975.

Tim O’Brien’s novel Northern Lights is written from the third-person limited perspective. O’Brien utilizes the past tense throughout the narrative.

At the start of the novel, Paul Milton Perry attempts to sleep in the heat of a Minnesota night. He leaves his wife, Grace, in bed and walks to nearby Pliney’s Pond. He thinks about his younger brother, Harvey, who will return the next day from the Vietnam War. He remembers his dead father, a preacher, who forced him to swim in the pond. Harvey, at the request of their father, built a bomb shelter on the property. Harvey and their father spent time together in the forest, while Perry typically remained at home.

Perry and Grace drive into Sawmill Landing to pick up Harvey. Harvey, who lost an eye during the war, is disappointed at the quiet reception. The following day, Perry goes to his office, where he processes loans for local farmers. He looks for a young woman named Addie but does not find her. He speaks with Jud Harmor, the mayor, who seems to confuse Perry with his father and brother.

Harvey appears restless in the wake of the war. He refuses to discuss his experiences in Vietnam. At a bar, Harvey meets Addie and dances with her. Perry seems to harbor his own romantic feelings for Addie; she often teases him about leaving Sawmill Landing together. Perry and Grace throw a birthday party for Harvey, but a heat storm sends the guests home early.

Perry discusses the history of Sawmill Landing. Perry’s grandfather was a Finnish immigrant; his father emphasized endurance and heroism. Harvey and Perry hike together and discuss Addie. That summer, Perry exercises and loses weight. Harvey and Addie begin a romantic relationship. Although Grace is deeply kind, Perry appears unsatisfied with their marriage. One night, Jud confusingly berates Perry for attempting to sell his family house.

Early in the winter, the town celebrates Harvey at a high school football game. Harvey grows sick and unhappy. One night, Addie convinces Harvey, Perry, and Grace to go to the junkyard to look for animals. They see a rat, and Addie challenges Perry to kill it. Although Perry fails at killing the rat, his behavior upsets Grace. Harvey buys tickets for a ski racing event in Grand Marais; he tells Perry that, after the races, they will ski back to Sawmill Landing. Perry receives word that his office is closing, and he considers leaving the town. One night, Grace tells Perry that she wishes they were closer and that she wants Harvey to move out.

In Grand Marais, Perry, Harvey, Addie, and Grace enjoy themselves. Addie, however, soon meets another man with whom she begins a casual relationship; this leaves Harvey distraught. Harvey loses his ski race. Perry learns that, the previous night, Harvey proposed to Addie. Harvey and Perry leave Grand Marais on skis as Addie and Grace drive back to Sawmill Landing.

Harvey and Perry spend two days skiing in fine, cold weather. They sleep in warm sleeping bags at night. On the second day, they make camp in a gully. Perry nervously notices that it is snowing. Harvey remains calm and capable. He discusses his anger towards Addie. The next day, Harvey seems falsely confident of their location. Perry becomes afraid. Harvey soon admits that they are lost and blames this on his compass. That night, the snow worsens and Perry thinks about Grace, Addie, and his father. The following day, the snow becomes a blizzard. They find an old dock and, nearby, the remains of a cabin. They eat the last of their food and walk in circles to stay warm. Harvey grows sick and claims he has pneumonia. Perry remembers the period around his father’s death, when Harvey built the bomb shelter for the old man. Harvey blamed Perry for not helping in the construction.

Perry’s conception of time grows muddled and unclear. He digs Harvey out of the snow; Harvey is very sick. They continue skiing and eventually come to an old bridge, where they make camp. Harvey, his fever worsening, begins to lose hope. The next day, they follow an old logging road. At night, Perry looks for airplanes. Harvey confesses that he was always worried that Perry harbored bitterness because their father once gave Harvey a rifle for Christmas. Perry does not remember the rifle. They follow the logging road until they reach a paved road. They come to a metal road sign, where they find the remains of a deer. They choose to not eat it; Perry soon regrets this decision.

Perry and Harvey find a shed with bunks, coffee, and cornmeal. They eat the cornmeal, and Perry successfully kills a woodchuck. Harvey suffers an attack of pneumonia and almost dies. Perry leaves his brother in the shed with orders to maintain the fire. Perry skis through the night and comes across picnic tables. He hears a dog. The next day, Perry meets a little girl, who leads him to her house. The girl’s mother hosts Perry; she does not, however, have a car to bring Perry to town. Perry sleeps and skis into town. He calls the state police, who bring him back to Sawmill Landing. A helicopter brings Harvey to the hospital.

That spring, Harvey continues to discuss leaving Sawmill Landing. Perry once again gains weight. Harvey participates in a parade. Addie moves to Minneapolis and again rejects Harvey’s marriage proposal. Jud Harmor dies. Harvey and Perry decide to sell their home. One night, Perry swims in Pliney’s Pond and appears to find some semblance of peace. He makes love to Grace and they discuss having a child. After the sale of their home, Harvey expresses regret. He angrily berates Perry for selling the home and leaving town. He apologizes, and then continues to propose wild, desperate plans to his brother.